Randolph, Cooper Take Basketball Awards

Kirk McNair

04/16/2015

Alabama basketball conversation in recent weeks has centered on the dismissal of Coach Anthony Grant and the selection of Avery Johnson as the incoming head coach. But Thursday night, the Tuscaloosa Tipoff Club paid tribute to the 2014-15 Crimson Tide in its annual awards banquet in Coleman Coliseum.

Alabama earned its fourth postseason appearance in the past six years, playing in its third NIT in that period. Bama finished the season with a 19-15 record.

Crimson Tide players, managers, and support staff were honored with seniors Levi Randolph and Rodney Cooper taking home awards as the outstanding offensive and defensive players.

Riley Norris won the Outstanding Freshman Award while Jimmie Taylor was named the Most Improved Player. Retin Obasohan won the Hustle Award and was also recognized for being selected to this year’s SEC Community Service Team.

In addition to recognizing the entire team and staff, special recognition was given to the team’s three departing seniors: Randolph, Cooper and Dakota Slaughter.

Randolph, who was the recipient of one of two Student Academic Achievement Awards, was the program’s first Academic All-America after being named to the second team in his senior season. He exits as the all-time leader in games played and is a member of the 1,000 point club. Cooper joined Randolph as a member of the 1,000 point club and leaves Alabama with the fifth most games played.

Slaughter also took home a Student Academic Achievement Award after earning the Student-Athlete Award at last year’s banquet. The former walk-on has a 4.0 GPA while double-majoring in Spanish and marketing.